You can bet Michael McLees wouldn’t be a fan of all the fuss, but it’s definitely warranted.

Regarded as a ‘quiet achiever’, the Blackmount man, who passed away last year, had continued a long-standing family legacy of service. The McLees family have farmed their Dunluce property for over 125 years, with each generation respected for its dedication to the community.

Mr McLees substantial contributions were formally recognised with the presentation of a posthumous Community Service Award from Southland District Council and the Tuatapere Te Waewae Community Board today.

Southland Mayor Rob Scott said he was proud to recognise Mr McLees’ tireless commitment.

“We are here not only to present a Community Service Award, but to honour someone who truly embodied the spirit of service,” he said.

“Michael sounds like he wasn’t the kind of person who sought the spotlight, in fact, he probably would’ve preferred we skipped the speeches and got straight to the working bee. But today is about remembering and celebrating his contributions.”

Mr McLees served with the Blackmount Fire Group for an incredible 38 years, including roles as deputy fire chief and secretary. While previous records were lost, he attended 84 callouts and 390 training sessions since 2009 – an impressive 97.5% attendance rate – and received numerous honours, including the Gold Star Award and Long Service and Good Conduct medals.

He was instrumental in the Blackmount Pool Committee, helping bring a valuable community asset to life, and was involved in governance on the Blackmount School Board of Trustees.

Following in his mother’s footsteps, he served on the Blackmount Chapel Committee.

Contributing to a positive morale, he managed the very popular Friday Night Club from 1998 to 2015, a much-needed social hub for local farmers.

“Michael was described as a ‘quiet achiever’, someone who leads by example, says very little, but when he does it’s worth listening to, and always shows up when needed,” Mayor Scott said.

“His presence at working bees, fundraisers, and community events has been a constant source of support to the Blackmount community.

“Michael’s legacy isn’t just in the buildings he helped build or the fires he helped fight, it’s in the community he helped build through his willingness to help. May his example continue to inspire us all to serve, to show up, and to care.”